Chesapeake Bay Retriever Chesapeake Bay Retriever Chesapeake Bay Retriever Water-Loving Dog is Loyal Family Companion Fate brought the Chesapeake Bay retriever to life. One night, during a particularly stormy gale at sea, two pups were destined to make history in the world of dog breeds. No doubt many families are pleased with the lucky outcome; the Chesapeake Bay retriever has been a family favorite, both a loyal hunting partner and affectionate, playful companion, since the early 19th century. Health The history of the Chesapeake Bay retriever dates back to 1807, when, according to the Chesapeake Bay Retriever Club, George Law rescued two dogs from a sinking Newfoundland-bound vessel off the East Coast. Law took the two dogs, which the sinking ship’s captain said were Newfoundland dogs, back to Maryland, where they were split up. The male dog, called Sailor, and the female pup, named Canton (after the boat on which it was pulled to safety), were each given to two men who lived in different areas of the Chesapeake Bay.

Both dogs displayed an affinity in water, particularly when it came to retrieving ducks, and Sailor and Canton quickly became well-known in the area, producing offspring with area dogs and creating the beginning of a new breed: the Chesapeake Bay retriever. This new breed became known as the “Chessie” and was quickly distinguished for its love of water and its ability to hunt waterfowl. The Chesapeake Bay retriever became the official dog of Maryland in 1964 and went on to become the mascot for the University of Maryland. The Chesapeake Bay retriever is known to be a very loyal and loving family pet, with a friendly, happy temperament and protective nature. Affectionate and intelligent, this breed responds well to socialization and training, which is recommended for a working dog such as the Chesapeake Bay retriever. One quirky tidbit about the breed: the Chesapeake Bay retriever is known to “smile” when very happy, baring its front teeth as if grinning. The breed can also become vocal when excited or happy. The Chesapeake Bay retriever is commonly mistaken for a Labrador retriever. While the two breeds may share some physical similarities, the Chesapeake Bay retriever has a notably different fur coat.

Double-thick and water-resistant, it has a wavy texture most noticeable on the dog’s neck, shoulders, back and loins. The double-thick coat protects these water dogs when swimming in icy cold ponds or lakes, typically while hunting waterfowl. A natural oil in the breed’s coat resists the water and keeps the dogs dry and warm. The breed is generally seen in three colors: brown (light to dark), “sedge” (varying from a reddish yellow, bright red or chestnut shade), and “deadgrass” (a faded tan or straw color). The Chesapeake Bay retriever also has amber-colored eyes. The Chesapeake Bay retriever is a medium to large size dog, weighing 70 to 100 pounds. Alopecia is the deficiency of hair in a dog’s coat. It does not necessarily refer to “loss” of hair. Specifically, it includes a hair deficiency due to either to failure of the hair to grow or loss of all or part of the hair shaft after growth has occurred. The condition can result from numerous disorders, infections, parasites, hormonal imbalances, allergic reactions and trauma. This condition typically affects Chesapeake Bay retrievers in a particular region of their body.

Treatment depends on the underlying cause of the condition. Cataracts are an opacity of the lens of the eye and may cause blindness if not treated surgically. Symptoms can include discoloring of the pupil, and treatment may include surgery to remove the cataract. Hip dysplasia is a hereditary malformation of the hip joints most commonly associated with large breed dogs. These malformations cause discomfort, lameness and result in arthritis. X-rays of the elbows and hips when dogs are around two years of age can identify these problems. Your veterinarian should be consulted about treatment options for these crippling conditions . Progressive renal atrophy (PRA): The type of PRA found in Chesapeake Bay retrievers is known as "progressive rod-cone degeneration." This form of PRA has a late onset with dogs being between four and 10 years of age. Symptoms begin with night blindness that eventually progress to complete blindness. Since this is a genetic disorder It is important that breeding stock be checked annually by an eye specialist until 10 years of age. Because the type of PRA in Chesapeakes is of late onset, an eye clearance at an early age does not guarantee that the dog is free of this disease.

von Willebrand disease is a common inherited blood disorder, characterized by a deficiency in clotting factor VIII. The main symptom of vWD is excessive bleeding following injury or surgical procedures. As with any pet, be sure to regularly consult a veterinarian for routine care and medical advice for your four-legged friend. ShareArticle The Breed's in the Seed | Oregon's Agricultural Progress | Oregon State University Oregon's Agricultural Progress The Breed's in the Seed OSU fisheries scientists are using crossbreeding techniques to develop disease-resistant oysters. Twitter Facebook Google+ In 1853 Johan Gregor Mendel began a series of experiments that revolutionized plant and animal agriculture. The Austrian monk studied how offspring inherit traits from parents by cross-breeding flowers at his Augustinian monastery. His discoveries led to the development of controlled cross-breeding strategies. Now, a marine scientist is using the same techniques to breed a better oyster. "In many ways, oysters may be like corn or other cereal crops in that you have to cross specific lines or families to obtain the best hybrid offspring," says Chris Langdon.

The OSU fisheries professor is heading a project called the Molluscan Broodstock Program at Oregon State University's Hatfield Marine Science Center (HMSC) to develop improved Pacific oysters. "The cross-breeding strategy commonly used in agriculture has never been done with oysters before," Langdon says. "Our overall goal has been to develop the best breeding scheme for oysters," he continues. "Inbreeding helps purge the population of deleterious genes-those that can result in oyster death or slow performance. Our goal here is to genetically select oysters that are fast growing and disease resistant." The Molluscan Broodstock Program (MBP) was started in 1995 as a special project funded by the United States Department of Agriculture. "There was a lot of support from the shellfish industry in setting up an oyster broodstock program at HMSC," says Langdon. "The East Coast oyster industry was in decline and growers were looking for a plan to develop a disease-resistant strain. Oregon was a good place to start because there is no serious disease in oysters here." Oyster farming has a long history around Newport. In the 1860s Capt. J.J.

Winant bought and sold oysters out of Oysterville near present day Newport. Photo: Lincoln County Historical Society The Pacific oyster also has a long history on the West Coast. It was first brought here from Japan in 1918. "Industry knew from the start that this was the one to produce," Langdon says. Unlike many agricultural industries in the United States, the West Coast oyster industry has never had a coordinated, long-term breeding program to improve commercial production. In effect, according to Langdon, the industry is still based on the culture of wild animals, without the economic benefits associated with domestication. The MBP is designed to help the West Coast oyster industry implement a long-term broodstock selection program to improve future production. During the last five years, technicians have produced and planted about 500 families of Pacific oysters at industry grow-out sites along thousands of miles of coastline stretching from Prince William Sound, Alaska to Tomales Bay, Calif. "We deliberately chose a wide range of sites to test the effects of different environments on genetic expression of oysters," says Langdon. Julio Correo-Ruiz harvests oysters grown on a suspended line in the Yaquina River at Oregon Oyster Farms.

The facility provides space for MBP broodstock. Photo: Lynn Ketchum Commercial production begins when broodstock from HMSC is sent to the Whiskey Creek Shellfish Hatchery in Netarts, Ore., the only larval hatchery in the state. It is part of Taylor Shellfish Farms of Shelton, Wash. Here broodstock oysters are spawned and the resulting larvae reared for two weeks on a diet of algae in tanks of various sizes before they are shipped to oyster farms. "Genetically, when you cross two oysters, you don't know what will happen," says Benoit Eudeline, research director at Whiskey Creek. "Oysters from some combinations grow faster than others. You want to pick the ones that grow best. Chris [Langdon] may tell us to cross #54 with #46 to obtain improved growth. We do that and see what happens." Adds Sue Cudd, hatchery manager: "There is a lot less control than if we were raising chickens where you feed them and hold them while they grow. Oysters are fed by nature. It is a mix between farming and nature.

It still depends on what nature gives us." After a seven-day first step, larvae are collected in large tanks by sieving them on screens that look like big tambourines. The varying sizes of mesh allows technicians to accomplish certain tasks; for example, eliminating non-growing larvae by letting them pass through the screens leaving the usable larvae behind. After 10 days, larval densities are reduced to avoid over-crowding in the last stage of growth. The concentration of algae is increased each week to heighten the amount of food given to the larvae. At the end of two weeks, larvae are measured out into volumetric plastic cones and sold in quantities counted in the millions. A typical shipment contains tens of millions of larvae and looks like wet sand formed into baseball-sized clumps and wrapped in moist white cloth. Then the clumps are placed in Styrofoam boxes and shipped to oyster farms via express mail. The hatchery processes 80 million larvae per day and has up to one billion larvae growing there at any one time, according to Eudeline. Benoit Eudeline, research director at Whiskey Creek Shellfish hatchery, Netarts, puts larvae into 8,000-gallon growing tanks.

Photo: Lynn Ketchum One facility receiving larvae from MBP broodstock is Oregon Oyster Farms, located three miles up the Yaquina River from HMSC. Here in 500 acres of water leased from the State of Oregon, the larvae are "set" and the baby oysters, or spat, are hung out to grow in lantern nets suspended from rafts, 30,000 oysters per raft, for about 14 months. Oysters are also grown in mesh bags placed on the bottom of the river. "We provide space to Chris for his oyster project," says Xin Liu, general manager of the farm. "We'll give him whatever he needs to finish his project. We are waiting for his results to see if we can borrow them. We prefer fast growing oysters. He is trying to select broodstock to develop the best oyster." Liu came to OSU from China in 1992 and worked on his Ph.D. at HMSC before going to work at Oregon Oyster Farms. That facility produces oysters and sells its products widely in the state. Xin Liu, (left) manager of Oregon Oyster Farms, Newport, and Chris Langdon, OSU fisheries scientist.

Oregon Oyster Farms is cooperating in the Molluscan Broodstock Program. Photo: Lynn Ketchum Harvesting oysters at the farm typically takes 14 months to 36 months, according to Liu. "Our hope is to improve our efficiency in terms of production," he says. "If the results are promising, maybe we will get to a 12-month growing cycle. A new idea always takes time." Once the oysters reach market size, families producing the highest meat yields are identified and used to produce subsequent generations. To that end, Bill Dewey, an oyster grower and MBP executive committee member, surveyed 16 oyster-growing companies to determine which traits are most valuable to the industry. The findings in this survey guided the research effort, indicating that meat yield is the most important trait for the shellfish industry. Other factors were fast growth, long shelf life, a deeply cupped shell shape, and resistance to summer mortality. Initially, broodstock was collected from wild oyster populations in Willapa Bay and Dabob Bay in Washington and Pipestem Inlet in British Columbia, Canada. Five founder cohorts-a cohort consists of a group of about 50 families-were produced from wild broodstock.

"We then selected the fastest growing oysters from the founder cohorts and used them as broodstock to produce subsequent generations," Langdon says. Before the hatchery and the farms come into play, however, an important part of the basic research takes place on the OSU campus where Mike Blouin, assistant professor of zoology and a co-principal investigator on MBP, is responsible for checking the pedigrees of the oyster broodstock. Because accurate pedigrees are essential for this project, it is important that scientists know the identity of all individual broodstock chosen for each generation. The repetitive, labor-intensive manipulations required during larval culture increase the chance that some cultures will become contaminated with individual larvae from other families. Such contamination can lead to misleading results in determining the response to selection and increased risk of inbreeding. To avoid this problem, Blouin uses microsatellite DNA fingerprinting methods to verify the pedigree of each individual selected as broodstock in each generation. Eudeline looks through a screen covered with oyster larvae. Photo: Lynn Ketchum Based on preliminary results, the selection program seems to be working.

Offspring from selected top-performing families are on average significantly heavier than offspring from wild, non-selected broodstock. Furthermore, the top five families from selected broodstock are about 25 percent heavier than offspring from industry's own supply. More information on MBP results can be found at the MBP website at . It provides information on the research progress, personnel and long-term plans for the program. In their work, the scientists take care to assure that neither diseases nor unwanted organisms are accidentally transferred with oysters transported between the Marine Science Center and industry sites. Oysters originating outside Yaquina Bay, for example, are disinfected upon arrival and handled under quarantined conditions until ready for spawning. Offspring are raised from the larval to the juvenile stage under conditions in which all incoming seawater from Yaquina Bay is sterilized by filtration or UV irradiation. Closeup view of 18-day old oyster larvae at Whiskey Creek Hatchery. Photo: Lynn Ketchum Oregon has become a nucleus for oyster research on the West Coast even though the industry is bigger in Washington-an annual production of $68 million last year vs. $1 million worth of product in Oregon, with lesser amounts in California, Alaska and British Columbia.

Washington also has the best growing areas in Willapa Bay, Grays Harbor and Puget Sound. Oregon's dominance in research stems from the long tradition of more than 30 years of cooperative research work with the oyster industry. The University of Washington has no marine research facility. Oregon also has a very active Coastal Oregon Marine Experiment Station (see Oregon's Agricultural Progress, Spring 1999), under whose auspices this work is being carried out. Langdon has high hopes for expansion of the shellfish industry on the West Coast, but such prospects are not without problems. "Total area of water available to produce oysters is reduced year by year by the pressure of coastal development," he says. "A high proportion of the population lives on the coast where folks want to build homes, shopping malls and marinas. "All this development generates waste from septic tanks, sewage systems and runoff from parking lots and roads," says Langdon. "The oyster has to continually fight for its existence, even though the industry has been farming coastal waters for about 100 years-long before water skiing and marinas became popular.

The oyster industry's fight for clean water has benefited all coastal inhabitants but it has been a lonely fight at times." One of the best oyster growing areas in the state used to be Tillamook Bay, but it is not as productive for oyster culture now because of the runoff from local dairy farms, sedimentation and expansive beds of burrowing shrimp that soften the sediment and smother the oysters. Ghost and mud shrimp have no commercial value. Dave Jacobson, manager of the Molluscan Broodstock Program at HMSC, inspects four to six month old "spat" or oyster seed. Photo: Lynn Ketchum "It is very difficult to control burrowing shrimp without the use of pesticides, something that is taboo in Oregon," says Langdon. "Washington, on the other hand, does allow some spraying to control these creatures there." There are other drawbacks. Harvesting time is considerable. Fourteen people must spend a week just removing barnacles from individual oysters by scraping them off. "It is an expensive, labor intensive work," Langdon says. Langdon hopes that progress in MBP will attract additional long-term support for shellfish research.

"The great advances in land-based agriculture over the last century have been partly due to long-term federal research support," he says. "Unfortunately, most federal agencies, apart from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, do not fund aquaculture projects on a long-term basis, resulting in frustratingly slow progress. It would be hard to carry out selective breeding of oysters with only a couple of years of funding." Because all research programs have finite life spans, Langdon is preparing for the day when funding for MBP runs out. "We are beginning to work on the best way for industry to support MBP in the future," he says. "There are several strategies: 1) form a cooperative for oyster broodstock improvement at the Hatfield Marine Science Center supported by industry, or 2) have the industry take over the breeding program and set it up in a commercial hatchery. The latter approach has been successfully adopted by the Norwegian salmon industry." OSU zoologist Mike Blouin looks at computer-generated oyster DNA "fingerprints." This allows researchers to doublecheck oyster pedigrees and prevent culture contamination. Photo: Lynn Ketchum Looking to the future, Langdon sees potential for market growth overseas.

"There are good business possibilities for the shellfish industry if we can develop genetically superior seed for foreign sales," he says. "The Pacific oyster is truly a global species. It is cultured now in Australia, New Zealand, Europe, many parts of Asia such as Korea and China, and in North and South America." But, he cautions, France, Australia and New Zealand are already setting up programs modeled on the MBP. "These programs are very well funded but we still have a significant lead," says Langdon. ALL ABOUT OYSTERS Oyster is the common name for any of about 50 species of marine bivalve mollusks. Several oyster species are important food commodities, including the Pacific oyster farmed on the West Coast of the United States. Species known as pearl oysters belong to a separate family. Oysters attach themselves to rocks or lie on the sea bottom. Unable to move, they are often dislodged from either resting place by waves. Their shell is irregularly oval in shape. It consists of a left and right valve joined together at the narrow anterior end by an elastic ligament that acts as a hinge. Attached to both valves is a strong muscle called the adductor, which keeps the shell tightly closed.

When the adductor relaxes, the elastic ligament pulls the valves apart. The left valve, upon which the oyster rests, is deeper and thicker than the right one. Noberto Hernandez sorts adult oysters at Oregon Oyster Farms on the Yaquina River. Photo: Lynn Ketchum The inner surfaces of the valves are white, except for the dark pigmented areas where the shell is connected to the adductor. The mantle-two folds of fleshy membrane-covers the oyster's soft body and lines the inside of the shell. An opening at the anterior end of the body, between two pairs of thin lips, or palps, serves as the mouth of the oyster. Two pairs of sickle-shaped respiratory organs, the gills, are covered with hair-like structures called cilia. A short gullet connects the mouth to the stomach. The body contains the digestive, reproductive, circulatory, excretory and nervous systems. The cilia moves and this movement creates a current in the water, bringing the microorganisms oysters eat into the shell. The microorganisms are sorted out by the labial palps before they reach the mouth. Oysters are found throughout the world.

They usually form large beds, which extend in warm waters from the tidal zone to a depth of up to 100 feet. Beds of American Bluepoint oysters grow along the East Coast. Chesapeake Bay is the largest oyster-producing body of water in the world, although many of its oyster beds have been depleted through overfishing and pollution. Large beds of edible oysters also exist in Japan and Australia. Pacific oysters (Crassostrea gigas), found all around the Pacific Rim, are the most commonly cultured edible oyster in the world, making up over 90 percent of all oysters produced. After carp, Pacific oysters also represent the biggest aquaculture crop in the world, by weight. This total includes the oyster's heavy shell as well as its meat. It is an old wives' tale that oysters should not be eaten in any months whose names lack the letter "R," but it just might be true. Sue Cudd of Whiskey Creek Shellfish Hatchery says that oysters harvested in the summer months contain a soft, milky substance that seeps out when the oyster is cut into. "Fall, winter and spring are the best seasons for oysters," she said.

Live oysters should be eaten within a week of harvest, according to a guide published by Taylor Shellfish Farms. They are best kept alive by placing them in an open container in a refrigerator (34 degrees to 45 degrees) and covering them with a clean wet cloth towel to prevent them from drying out. They should not be kept in a bucket of seawater, plastic bags or other airtight containers. Chesapeake Bay Retrievers Chesapeake Bay Retrievers Further comments on color added Jan 1996. Clarifications on color & notes in health section added Aug 1996 This version is Copyright 1995, 1996 by Cindy Moore . It may not reside at web pages anywhere other than at my site. Please feel free to include a link to it if you wish, however. You are free to download a hardcopy for your personal use; please contact me for permission for further redistribution. Table of Contents History To understand the rise and development of the Chesapeake Bay Retriever it is essential to understand something about the region from which it comes. The Chesapeake Bay is on the East Coast of the United States, running north up toward Baltimore.

This is a land of harsh winters, icy water, and huge numbers of migratory birds. James Michener describes the duck hunting in this region in his novel, Chesapeake. There were literally so many birds that they could be shot out of the sky en masse, resulting in 10 to 20 ducks for their dogs to then go out and retrieve at a time. The guns used were more properly boat-mounted cannons. These hunters needed dogs that were capable of going out and retrieving all of these ducks, in particular going after cripples first and then back to pick up the dead ones. There are many stories and legends about the origin of the Chesapeake Bay Retriever. The favored story involves the 1807 shipwreck of an English ship bound for Poole, England. The crew and two puppies survived the wreck: a brown male named Sailor and a black bitch dubbed Canton in honor of the rescuing ship. These two puppies were St. John's water dogs, no doubt bound for Lord Malmesbury's estates, which at this time was developing the prototype for the Labrador Retriever breed. These puppies found homes in the Chesapeake Bay area, on the opposite shores, and were trained and used for duck retrieving.

The dogs that descended from these two ultimately became collectively known as Chesapeake Bay Retrievers. Whether or not Canton and Sailor contributed as much to the breed as they are credited with, or even whether they were bred to one another at all, it's clear that the Chesapeake, or Chessie as it is often called, developed in this area from avid hunters who cared about two things: a fanatical retriever, and a brown coat to blend in with its surroundings. Thus, many dogs would have been used for breeding stock as long as they were good hunters and retrievers and had brown coats. Other St. John's dogs from Newfoundland and retrieving dogs, including the Labrador upon its return to the Americas, were no doubt used in the quest for the ultimate duck retriever. While it's temptingly romantic to paint a picture of a breed coming about by natural selection in this rugged climate, in all likelihood, Chesapeakes were bred quite carefully by the families along the Bay for the qualities they desired. There is anecdotal evidence of breeding records and pedigrees tracing back to at least the beginning of the 19th century.

In particular, the Carroll Island Gun Club was devoted to Chesapeakes in the latter half of the eighteenth century and reportedly kept breeding records going back for decades. The club's members bred Chesapeakes and hunted over them; sportsmen came from all over the country to witness their prowess. Unfortunately, in a contribution to the puzzle of this breed's origins, the club's records were lost in a fire near the turn of the century. Some of the other breeds believed to have played a part in the Chesapeake's development include coonhounds, Curly Coated Retrievers, Irish Water Spaniels, and setters. The Chesapeake Bay Retriever was the first individual retriever breed recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1878. The first recorded Champion in this breed is CH Barnum (born 1892); the first Field Champion is FC Skipper Bob (mid 30's), with the first dual Champion, Dual CH Sodaks Gypsy Prince (1937) following shortly after. The American Chesapeake Club became the official national breed club in 1918.

In contrast, the rest of the retrievers were lumped together until the late 1920's when the AKC finally separated them into the ones we know today. The Chesapeake Today The Chesapeake is fortunate at this point in that it has not split between show and field as has happened with the more popular retriever breeds. To some extent this is probably due to its being one of the rarer Retriever breeds, with Golden Retrievers and Labrador Retrievers far surpassing the Chesapeake in litters registered annually with the AKC . In 1994, there were two Dual Champions. There have been a total of eleven Dual Champions in the breed, and three more that had a breed Championship and an Amateur Field Trial Championship. The American Chesapeake Club today maintains the breed Standard , organizes annual National Specialty Shows and Field Trials. The club has a code of ethics for its members, and supplies information upon request about the breed and those in the breed. Pet and Companion The Chesapeake is a talented and driven dog. He can be stubborn and strong-willed and is not the best dog for most novice owners. He is excellent with children, though he will not tolerate abuse and will get up and leave in such a situation.

In any case, any interaction between young children and dogs of any breed should be supervised by an adult. The Chesapeake is an intensely loyal dog with a strong protective streak. This is coupled with an excellent temperament; the consequence of which is that while the Chesapeake makes an excellent watch dog, he is a poor attack dog as he will not injure others. His loyalty also means that it is difficult for anyone else to train the dog except for his family. As a rule, Chesapeakes are friendly rather than affectionate with strangers. Poor results are obtained by "sending the dog away" for training and is not advised. This is a breed that makes a wonderful family pet and does badly when kenneled away from the family. Because he is a retrieving breed, he is likely to chew quite a lot throughout puppyhood and adolescence. Because he will grow to be relatively large and have a protective streak, it is imperative to socialize him as a puppy with plenty of strangers and have him be used to obedience work. Activities Chesapeakes are first and foremost superb hunting dogs and well known for their love of water. They are credited with excellent noses and perserverance in finding fallen game, in particular going after crippled birds first then the dead ones.

For example, there are authenticated stories of Chesapeakes retrieving as many as 100 ducks in a single day! With good training, your Chesapeake should easily be an excellent hunter. Chesapeakes are shown in field trials and do very well, However, they are consistently outnumbered by Labradors at these shows (who outnumber all the other breeds eligible for these trials). Nevertheless, the breed continues to have Dual Champions, a tribute to the continued working ability of the breed as a whole. In contrast, Cheaspeakes are never very numerous at the show ring. They are easily shown however; requiring little grooming. It is sometimes difficult, however, to find a judge that truly understands the breed's type. Chesapeakes do well in obedience, especially under experienced trainers. Since they have a mind of their own, however, it may be a task to convince them to do things your way rather than theirs! Look for puppies with the following points: Sound temperament -- no shyness, fear, or aggression. Good health -- active and inquisitive, glossy coat, pink gums and tongue. Ideally should be retrieving items with eagerness at an early age Unperturbed by loud noises. Eager to approach strangers.

Parents that are certified free of hip and elbow dysplasia and examined annually for hereditary eye diseases. Look carefully at the parents to give you an indication of what the puppies should grow up to be like. If you don't like the dam or the sire, you should probably pass on the puppies. There are more general tips given in the FAQ on " Getting A Dog " for finding reputable breeders and asking the right questions. This article is posted monthly to rec.pets.dogs.info. General help for dealing with puppies can be found in the " New Puppy " FAQ, also posted monthly to rec.pets.dogs.info. A Chesapeake puppy's coat color can become either darker or lighter with maturity. Puppy and adult colors can both range from a very light "deadgrass" color to a rich, dark chocolate shade. It is common to see a wide range of colors within the same litter. Frequently Asked Questions Aren't Chesapeakes a kind of Labrador? NO, although the breeds are related.

Unfortunately, since Labradors are much better known, the comparison is inevitable, and too often the Chesapeake is simply described in terms of how it differs from the Labrador, or worse, as "another kind of Labrador." Physical differences: In Chesapeakes, the ears are set higher, and the legs tend to be longer. The eyes are shaped differently and set a little more forward in the head. They are not as stocky as Labradors, especially show Labs, and they have a different topline since their rear may be high. The coat of a Labrador is not woolly, and if there is a wave to it, is not nearly the same as a Chesapeake's. Moreover, Chesapeakes only come in various shades of brown (from a wheaten "deadgrass" color, to reddish brown, to a deep rich chocolate), whereas Labradors can be yellow, black, or chocolate. The easiest way to distinguish a chocolate Labrador from a dark Chesapeake is by the lighter pigment of the Chesapeake's nose and eyes and the woolliness and curliness of its coat. Eye color doesn't always give you a clue as many chocolate Labradors have yellow eyes rather than the correct hazel or brown.

Certainly poorly bred specimens of either breed may make it nearly impossible to decide which breed they are. Temperament differences: The Chesapeake is a loyal breed, bonding closely to its family and not taking direction from strangers very well although they may be unfailingly polite or friendly to strangers. The Labrador is often indiscriminately affectionate and many will work for nearly anyone. The Chesapeake has a protective streak which most Labradors lack or possess to a significantly lesser degree. Extensive kenneling and isolation seems to affect Chesapeakes more strongly than Labradors. Both breeds can be equally stubborn, however, and they do share many other common retriever traits: high intelligence, trainability, a high activity level, and a love of water. What are the different colors of the Chesapeake? Deadgrass -- is without any red tone in either the light, regular or dark variations. Deadgrass can vary from almost yellow to tan. Sedge -- almost a "strawberry blonde" coloration. Definite reddish undertones on a relatively light colored coat. Browns -- darker and may have red undertones (light brown, brown and dark brown). Liver -- ???.

This color was a disqualification for a long time, but has been dropped in the latest version of the standard. It's not clear how this color differs from shades of Brown. So are Chespeakes always a solid color? White markings can show up but unless limited to spots on the chest, belly or feet, they are disqualifications. Any black markings are disqualifications. The Chesapeake can have hound markings though this is not preferred. However, if you examine a solid colored Chesapeake, you will likely find a subtle range of colors on it, down to variations on a single hair shaft. This is perfectly normal. Which color came first? Which is better? While the exact color of a Chesapeake is inconsequential, the range of colors and their historical devevelopment is nevertheless of academic interest. In researching old AKC Stud Book pages, the predominant registered color of the Chessie in the late 1800's was sedge. However, there is some evidence that because sedge was a prized color at the time, dogs were being registered as sedge simply to help move puppies.

Also, as many Chesapeakes change colors from puppyhood to adulthood, it is unclear how many puppies might have been sedge when young and a different color when adult. Nevertheless, this practice started such an uproar at the time that "sedge" was very nearly dropped as a color description. This is probably also when the worn out argument of which color is "better" originated. According the stud books, which, again, are open to interpretation, a trend toward the brown color started at the turn of the century. Brown in those days was called by several different names including sable, bay, mink, brown, dark brown, red brown, and light brown. There were also several dogs registered as liver in color. From 1889 to 1904, one deadgrass and a handful of tans were registered (and one as "sedge grass"). This suggests that Chesapeakes have always come in a wide range of colors. Because of the dominant/recessive nature of the colors, there will be a greater number of browns than other colors. There is no evidence that deadgrass developed later or elsewhere.

(Thanks to Thomas McClanahan for supplying the information about the stud book records and to Meghan Connor for discussing their interpretation, both on the Chessie-L list.) So how important is color? Not very. So long as the Chesapeake has no disqualifying marks, the color of its coat is unimportant. Of course, individuals have their private preferences, but this ideally does not carry over in to the show ring, and certainly does not affect the dog's hunting ability. You can find quality dogs in any of the permitted colors for the breed. Alright, if color is not important, then what is? The coat quality! It's important that the coat be harsh and crisp, with plenty of undercoat. A correct coat will be only mildly damp after the dog shakes when coming out of the water. If it retains water so that the dog is soaked, it is not correct. Nor should the coat curl (defined in the Standard as the hair curling around far enough to touch itself again). Color appears to play some part in the coat quality, as a variety of colors in the coat often signify variations in texture necessary for a quality coat. This is not to say, however, that a particular color is somehow better than the rest.

Is the eye color supposed to match the coat? Not according to the Standard. Individual breeders may have personal preferences, of course, but a long as the Chesapeake's eyes are yellow to amber in color, it does not matter whether the coat is deadgrass or dark brown or any other color in between. Is the topline supposed to have the rear be higher? Again, according to the standard: "Topline should show the hindquarters to be as high as or a trifle higher than the shoulders." Many breeders prefer "a trifle higher," citing improved working ability as a result. The Chesapeake is one of only a few AKC recognized breeds that allow high rears. Are Chesapeakes stubborn and hard to train? They have often been accused of such, but this directly contradicts the personal experience of many Chesapeake owners. Most often you will hear this accusation from professional hunting or field trial trainers, most of whom are more accustomed to working with the Labrador. As previously noted the Chesapeake is more responsive to his family than to a stranger and this is doubtless a large factor responsible for the trainers' perceptions.

If you will be sending out your Chesapeake for hunting training, be sure to look for a trainer that has trained Chesapeakes and is willing to work with their differences rather than train them in the same way all their other dogs are trained, or try to force them into the Labrador mold. The other thing to keep in mind is that Chesapeakes are intelligent and sometimes bored with pointless (to them) repetition. Thus their talent for doing some things their own way! Anyone training Chesapeakes must work with this tendency or ultimately be frustrated. How much do they shed? Do they require a lot of grooming? No! The coat is nearly maintenance free and can in fact be damaged by over grooming. Many people do not know what the proper coat texture is for a Cheasapeake; it should be springy and resilent to the touch, not soft or smooth. Brushing your Chesapeake weekly with a rubber brush is all he needs. The regular brushing will help distribute oils evenly throughout the coat and help shed any dead hair. In particular, you should not use a rake or a slicker on the coat, which can break down all the wave and kink in your Chesapeake's coat.

A properly maintained Chesapeake coat will be only slightly moist after it shakes itself off when it comes out of the water. Since the Chesapeake is a double coated breed, it does shed, more than you might expect for a relatively short haired dog, but less than a long haired dog. How much exercise do they need? Like all the retriever breeds, the Chesapeake is an active dog and will become destructive if bored or underexercised. Note that any regular and/or heavy exercise should wait until your Chesapeake is at least a year old. While puppies should have plenty of opportunities for exercise, the exercise should be self selected (eg, allowing the puppy to run around in a field rather than dragging it along to go jogging with you). Are they good swimmers? Most Chesapeakes love the water! However, you should use good sense when introducing a puppy to the water. Throwing it in could cause the puppy to become afraid of the water. Instead, select a calm body of water, with plenty of shallow area for him to romp in. If you have another dog that loves to swim, this is the best way to entice a puppy into the water.

Keep an eye on very young puppies in the water to be sure they don't get into trouble. Adult Chesapeakes are excellent swimmers. You will see their toplines just below the water and their tails acting as a kind of rudder. They will swim with powerful strokes and pull their head and shoulders out of the water to locate objects in the water. Just how well do they tolerate really cold water? An adult Chesapeake in good condition and aclimatized to the winter will do just fine in icy water. Do be sensible and observe precautions if you are near iced-over rivers or lakes that may break through. Make sure your dog dries off completely and quickly once he finishes swimming: with the correct coat, a quick shake is sufficient, if your dog has gotten wet down to the skin, a towel may help. Working Chesapeakes are often expected to work all day in icy water conditions. Joint Problems Chesapeakes are susceptible to hip dysplasia as well as other joint problems. All breeding stock should be x-rayed and certified clear of hip dysplasia by the OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals).

Elbow problems, including Ununited Anconeal Process , and Degenerative Joint Disease (all called "OCD," or generally "Elbow Dysplasia") may be upcoming problems in the breed: both the closely related breeds Labradors and Flat Coats are finding increased incidences of these problems when they look for them. Ideally, breeding stock should begin clearing both elbows AND hips with OFA. Von Willebrand's Disease Bliss, Anthony, ed. The Chesapeake Bay Retreiver. Published by The American Chesapeake Club 1933/36. Rare and out of print, an excellent source of information. Cherry, Eloise H. The Complete Chesapeake Bay Retriever. Howell House, 1981. Horn, Janet and Dr. Daniel Horn. The New Complete Chesapeake Bay Retriever. Howell Book House, 1994. Spencer, James B. Hunting Retrievers: Hindsights, Foresights and Insights, Alpine Publications. Chesapeake Bay Retriever Champions, 1952-1987. Camino Book Co.

PO BOX 729, Kings Beach, CA 96143-0729. Tel: 702-831-5553 Byron, Gilbert. Chesapeake Duke, ill. by Jack Lewis published in 1975 by Tidewater Publishers, Cambridge, MD 21613. Out of print. (fiction) Tidewater Publishers are now in Centrevill, MD, but don't appear to carry either this or Grover. Email List Tom MacClanahan (macclan@ix.netcom.com) and Teri Grodner (tg@islandmedia.com) maintain an email list for owners of Chesapeake Bay Retrievers. To subscribe, send email to LISTSERV@APPLE.EASE.LSOFT.COM with no/any subject line and in the body of the message, put SUBSCRIBE CHESSIE-L yourfirstname yourlastname. Another list is run by George Makatura (coorgo@cbrs4me.com); subscription is via email to CHESSIE-L-REQUEST@LISTS.BEST.COM with no subject line and subsingle as the only word in your message.

You will get further instructions on how to complete the subscription process. The original Chessie-L mailing list at io.com was discontinued shortly before Christmas 1996; archives for this list are still available. Chesapeake Bay Retriever Breed Information - Breeders lists - Puppies for Sale - dogs4sale Australia Original Function: companion to trappers/hermits as well as intense swimmer/retriever of water fowl Temperament: Bright and happy disposition, alert and intelligent and showing a willingness to work. Characteristics: Independent, affectionate, and courageous, with a great love of water. Makes a good guardian and companion, especially with children. Recommended for: Active people & families. Be aware : In Australia limited numbers are breed each year and a wait for puppies is common Lifespan: 12-15yrs Height: Dogs 58.4-66 cms (23-26 ins) Height: Bitches 53.3-60.9 cms (21-24 ins) Colour: Dead grass (straw to bracken), sedge (red gold), or any shade of brown. White spots on chest, toes and belly permissible. The smaller the spot the better.

Coat: A distinctive feature. Coat should be thick and reasonably short, not over 3.8 cms (1.5 inches long), with harsh oily outer coat and dense fine woolly undercoat covering whole body; hairs having tendency to wave on neck, shoulders, back and loins. Hair on face and legs only should be very short and straight. Moderate feathering on stern and tail permissible. Curly coat not permissible. Texture of coat very important as dog is used for working under all sorts of adverse weather conditions, often working in ice and snow. Oil in harsh coat and woolly undercoat of extreme value. The coat should resist water. General Appearance: Large sized body. Well proportioned, active worker with a distinctive coat and intelligent expression. Strong muscular appearance. Eye and nose colour blends with coat colour. Ears hang to the side of the head. Tail is long. The Chesapeake Bay Retriever is an American dog from Chesapeake Bay on the east coast of America. The local hunters expected their dogs to plunge into icy waters and retrieve ducks and geese. These dogs have no worries with such conditions their oily wavy coat protects them from the elements.

They have a natural love of the water and will retrieve from the sea, rivers or lakes. They have an independent streak and will think for themselves but at the same time are affectionate. They love children, although they can play a bit roughly at times. The Chesapeake loves the outdoors, especially water. They have a bright, cheerful and alert outlook on life and enjoy the companionship of other dogs and people. When it matures, about 3 years of age, can actually be quite a calm dog. They are protective by nature, not showing this until about 9 to 18 months old. They are an intelligent dog and easy to train, however owners need to maintain strong persistence in training. They are quite sensitive so don't respond well to harsh training. Grooming- The coat can be wavy but is not generally curly, feeling oily when touched. It is advised not to wash this dog as damage can be done to its waterproof coat. Also take care when brushing, which should only be necessary when the dog is moulting. Brushing will remove the dead and loose hairs. Bathing and excessive brushing could damage the texture of the coat.

Exercise- require a lot of exercise, and can become somewhat badly behaved if not given enough exercise. They love water, swimming and retrieving, being their favourite sports, so make sure they have access to water on their walks. Health- For Diet and other general dog health information Health/Nutrition

Question: Which East Coast body of water has given its name to a breed of retriever?
Answer: Chesapeake Bay